Containers



March 15, 1960 s. N. CHIRCHIGLIA CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1956 INVENTOR. SALVATORE N.

cwmcmmm ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 s. N. CHIRCHIGLIA CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1956 m m m m m m a S INVENTOR. $A LVATQ R E N.

March 15, 1960 s. N. CHIRCHIGLIA CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 9, 1956 INVENTOR. SALVATORE N. By CHIRCHIGLIA KNdWN BR'AND BABY FOOD KNOWN BRAND 2 BABY FOOD KNOWN BRAND BABY FooD xuoww RAND L BABY o0 Arrogusv 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 9, 1956 INVENTOR. a SALVATORE N.

' 1 CHIRCHIGLIA ATTQRNEY Unitid Sims P m CONTAINERS Salvatore N. Chirchiglia, Youngstown, Ohio Application May 9, 1956, Serial No. 583,810

3 Claims. 7 Cl. 206- 56 My invention relates to containers, more particularly to containers which may selectively be used for shipping, storage and dispensing purposes, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved con tainers of the character described.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in shipping articles to merchandising outlets and provides great savings in storage, inventory count, distribution and dispensing.

Heretofore, it was customary to ship fragile articles in a single carton containing twelve or twenty-four units and this required the manager or owner of the market to purchase an entire carton even though the demand was limited. In such cases, a part of the articles were placed on display for sales purposes and the remainder stored.

The stored portion was usually kept in the shipping carton and presented problems since, with the carton opened and a portion of the articles removed, the carton did not provide good support for other stored material. Further, inventory and quantity control problems were increased since an exact count required that each opened carton be inspected to determine the amount of articles therein.

My invention overcomes the foregoing and other disadvantages of the prior art, as will be apparent from the following description.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application, there are shown, for purposes of illustration, several embodiments which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carton illustrating :an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, with the carton 'opened and ready to deliver articles contained therein,

Figure 3 is a plan view, drawn to a smaller scale, of a blank from which the carton may be made,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the carton shown in Figure 1, y

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view corresponding :generally to the line 5-5 of Figure 4, g v, v

Figure 6 is'a perspective view of a separator member used in the embodiments disclosed,

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified end cover,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another method of closing the end of the carton,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary schematic view illustrating the cartonshown in Figure 2 in position for filling an article display hopper,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating the carton of Figure 7 in position for delivering articles to a supporting shelf. 1

Figure. 11 is a plan view illustrating a shipping and 2,928,539 T Pa nted Mar. 15, 19 0 dispensing of frangible jars, such for example as used in the sale of baby food. Although the invention will hereinafter be described in connection with baby food jars, it will be understood that the invention is not limitedto such use. p

Referring particularly to Figures 1 through 3, the carton or receptacle 20 embodying my invention is formed of any suitable material. At the present time,

it is preferred to form such carton of commerciallyavailable cardboard or corrugated reenforced board' which is used in the manufacture of prior art shipping containers.

The carton 20 provides an elongated, tubular con-' tainer having ends and sides for housing articles in successive relation. For the purpose of containing baby' food jars, the carton is preferably rectangular in crosssection, as shown in Figure 5, with opposed sides 21-21 longer than opposed sides 22-22'to accommodate the jar J.

As is presently customary in the packaging of baby food, the jar J is formed of transparent material, such as glass, and is closed by a cover C. Althoughthecove'r C is usually applied to seal the jar, it has been foundthat baby food is perishable and must be sold on the basis of first in, first out. Whether the perishable nature of this food is caused by inadequate sealing, or whether exposure to light merely causes the colorof the baby food to change and thus make it less susceptible to purchase, is immaterial since my invention overcomes the disadvantages heretofore inherent in the prior art.

As seen in Figure 3, a blank may be formed in any suitable manner, such as by a stamping process presently employed in the manufacture of prior art cartons. The blank is preferably creased longitudinally at 23, 24 and 25 to provide fold lines which facilitate the formation of the carton and to provide the sides 21-21 and 22-22.

Opposite ends of one side 21 are extended to form closure flaps 26. A crease 27 is formed inwardly of the extremity of each flap 26 to provide a tab 28 which may be tucked into the carton structure to close the respective end of the carton. A sealing tape 29 (see Figure 1) is secured to each flap 26, and to an adjoining side of the carton, to hold the flap in carton-closing relation. To

open either end of the carton, the tape 29 at that end is severed to permit removal of the tab 28 from within the carton.

Again referring to Figure 3, the sides 22-22 have terminal extensions 30-30 to form flaps which are folded inwardly of the carton and cooperate with the flaps: 26-26 to effectively close respective ends of the carton.

One side22 is provided with a tear strip 31, formed in the usual manner by lines 32 which are weakened to provide for removal of the area defined therebetween. A pull tab 33 may be provided to establish a finger hold for the purpose of removing the tear-strip 31.

The carton is. formed by folding thesides 21-22.

along the lines 23, 2,4 and 25in such manner to abut the free edge of side 21 withthe free edge of side 22,

- An adhesive tape 34 (see Figures 1 and 2 is then secured lengthwise of the abutting edges to maintain the assembly The carton shown in Figure 7 is substantially similar to that hereinbefore described with the exception that the closure flaps 26a are formed as extensions of the sides 22--22, and the flaps 30a are formed as extensions of the sides 2121..

The carton shown in Figure 8 is substantially similar to, that hereinbefore described with the exception that the tabs 28 are omitted from the flaps 26 and such flaps are glued to the flaps 30 to close the carton. In this case, a tear member 35 is secured to the flap 26b in the usual manner. A pulling force applied to a free end of the member 35 will sever the flap 26b and provide for easy opening of the carton end.

Disposed within the carton (see Figure 4) are a plurality of separator members 36. The jars of baby food I are contained within the carton in successive relation and a separator member 36 has a portion 37 disposed between adjoining jars to minimize intercontact therebe tween.

As best seen in Figure 6, each separator member is preferably T shape in form, the head of the T providing the portion 37 and being of a width slightly less than the corresponding inner dimension of the carton so that the portion 37 is freely movable within the carton when not held by a jar. The leg of the T is folded to provide a hinge joint 38 and a tongue 39, the latter being secured, as by gluing, to a side 21 of the carton. It is preferable, in the construction so far described, to open only one end of the carton (the left hand end in Figure 4) and suitable legend may be imprinted on the carton ends to effect this purpose.

As will be evident from inspection of Figures 1 through 5, my invention provides a small, compact carton which, in the specific embodiment illustrated, contains six jars of baby food in in-line relationship. A plurality of cartons 20 may be combined to provide a shipping package containing multiples of the six jars carried by a single carton.

In Figure 12, three cartons 20 are assembled with sides 21 in adjoining relation to provide a compact shipping container for eighteen jars. In Figure 13, a container for twelve jars is provided. Figures 11, 14 and 15 show a shipping container for twenty-four jars. In Figure 11, the four cartons are assembled with sides 22 in adjoining relation and are held assembled by strips 4040 of adhesive tape. Preferably, the brand identification is printed or stamped on the package after the strips of tape 40 are applied and such identification is preferably distributed so that even when the shipping container shown in Figure 11 is severed (by cutting the tape strips 40) into its four cartons 20, enough printed matter reinains on each carton to enable identification of its conen s.

Although a shipping container of any number of cartons 20 may be made up, the usual twenty-four pack size shown in Figures 11, 14- and 15 is presently preferred. This size permits an order to be placed for twenty-four articles which may be shipped simultaneously and used or stored in any desired quantity of six, twelve, eighteen or twenty-four.

For example, a merchant receiving the shipping container shown in Figures ll, 14 and 15, may sever the tapes 40 and empty only one carton 20 for display and sale. The other cartons will remain securely packed for storage purposes and, because they are unopened, deterioration because of exposure to light is avoided. Further, the remaining cartons may be stored and provide a solid foundation not possible with present cartons wherein the contents have been partially removed. At inventory time, a clerk need only count the stored cartons to arrive at the amount of stored merchandise; previously,

a clerk was required to check each carton to make sure I of the number of jars contained therein sin'cefrequently partially filled cartons were stored.

Further, with respect to chain stores, ecbnomy maybe effected by buying in larger lots. For distribution to individual stores, each shipping container may be separated so that an individual store need receive only the exact amount it can sell in a given period, thus reducing the amount of money tied up in stored inventory. Further, customers may be encouraged to purchase'jars in lots of six, thus eliminating separate packaging needs as is now customary.

At the time a carton 20 is readied for store sale, the tear strip 31 is first preferably removed. This can be easily done by grasping the tab 33 and pulling upwardly, as shown in Figure 2. With the strip 31 removed, a price-stamping device may be inserted within the longitudinal opening provided so that the cover C of each jar may be stamped with a selling price.

The end of the carton may then be opened by severing the tape 29 (or severing the flap 2612 by a pulling force on the tear strip 35 in Figure 8).. The flaps. 30 may then be moved outwardly to alignment with their attached sides to clear the opening into the container.

The carton shown in Figures lthroughb may be turned with a side 21 lowermost and the carton inclined, as shown in Figure 9, with the open end lowermost. It will be seen that the flap 26 and flaps 30-30 at the lower open end form a guide for directing a jar issuing from the lower open end or" the carton.

With the carton open at its lower, end and, inclined, as shown in Figure 9, the weight of the jars (and the fact that the jars are rollable and are disposed with their rolling axis horizontal) will cause them to move downwardly in the carton.

Referring to Figure 4, and assuming thatvthe carton has been inclined and the left hand end opened and disposed lowermost, the lower jar will roll downwardly along the flap 26 and outwardly of the carton. The weight of the succeeding jar will press against the first separator member portion 37 and move this portion to lie substantially flat against the wall 21 and the succeeding jar will roll from the carton. This action is repeated until all jars have rolled from the carton. The carton in Figure 4 is shown at the time of original packaging; however, during shipment, the carton is sufficiently flexed so that the hinge portions 39 will not interfere with downward rolling action of the jars.

The action above described has special utility with display racks now in use in some stores to display baby food. Considerable economy may be eliected by reason of a reduction in handling costs. For example, by use of my improved carton, the jars may be rolled directly into a display rack R, as shown in Figure 9, without the necessity of handling any jar individually.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the flap 26a (and also the flaps 30a) act as a guide means to position the jars on a shelf. Since the jars, in this embodiment, slide along their bottoms, a slight chucking action may be necessary (or the carton may be inclined at a greater angle) to empty the carton. In this embodiment, the separator means are pivotally connected along the lower side 22 and, as before, are moved to position generally flatwise of such side by the downward sliding movement of the jars.

Figures 16 and 17 disclose an embodiment which enables the carton to be used as a dispensing means. In this embodiment the carton may be made substantially as before and a longitudinal tear strip 50 may be provided, extending from a pull tab 51 at one end of the carton to juncture with a cross-wise tear strip 52 atthe other end of the carton.

The jars J are disposed with their rollable axes at right angles to the sides 53 of the carton and therefore their s des are exposed for price-stamping purposes when the tear strip 50 is removed. Removal of the tear strip 50 also provides an opening through which a customer may sight the jars for identification purposes. The exterior surface of the carton may also be provided with contentsidentifying matter.

The tear strip 52 extends cross-wise of side 54 and partially into adjoining sides 53, as shown at 55. .The tear strip 52 may be removed by pressing inwardly on opposite tabs 55, or tearing such tabs outwardly, and then removing the main body of the strip by a pulling action.

The opening provided by the tear strip 52 is of a size to restrict free falling action of a lowermost jar outwardly of the carton. The carton, in dispensing relation, is disposed upright, with the end adjacent the opening formed by the tear strip 52 lowermost. To remove the lowermost jar I, the thumb and middle finger of a customer may respectively engage the top and bottom of the jar and a slight outward pull will release the jar. As before, the separator members 56 will hinge downwardly to permit succeeding jars to be positioned adjacent the opening formed by the tear strip 52. If desired, the corners 57 of the carton, adjacent the lower opening, may be weakened to bulge outwardly, as shown in Figure 17, to facilitate removal of the lowermost jar.

The dispensing feature of the embodiment shown in Figures 16 and 17 may be combined in the cartons shown in the preceding figures so that the carton may be selectively adapted for dispensing purposes.

Referring to the embodiment disclosed in Figure 18, the carton 60 therein disclosed may be formed like any of the cartons hereinbefore described. As specifically disclosed, the carton 60 is formed somewhat like the carton shown in Figures 1 through 6 and, accordingly, is provided with a tear strip 61 corresponding to the tear strip 31.

In this embodiment, however, the separator means 62 are preferably of a width not exceeding the width of the tear strip. The separator means 62 are secured to the tear strip in any suitable manner and normally are dis posed between adjoining jars I to minimize intercontact therebetween. However, these separator means, because of their connection with the tear strip, are removed from the carton simultaneously with removal of the tear strip. Accordingly, a clear space is provided for the jars to roll or slide outwardly of the inclined, opened carton.

The separators may be of a length corresponding to the inner width of a side 63 so as to be generally rigidly interposed between sides 64 and thereby impart additional strength and rigidity to the carton for shipping and storage purposes.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. An elongated cardboard carton for shipping a plurality of similar articles, said carton having sides and ends for housing said articles in confined similarly disposed successive relation, a plurality of separator means shiftably carried by said carton in spaced relation, each separator means having a portion disposed between adjoining articles to restrict intercontact therebetween, a tear strip along one side of said carton, said strip being removable to expose a common surface of each article, and at least one end of said carton being formed so that it may be opened to provide for successive removal of said articles and when so opened and disposed lowermost by uprighting said carton, the weight of said articles cause downward movement of the latter to shift said separator means clear of interposition between said articles, whereby the latter are free to gravitate through the open lower end of said uprighted carton in successive manner.

2. An elongated cardboard container for shipping a plurality of similar articles, said carton having ends and being rectangular in cross-section to define a tubular carton having pairs of opposed sides for housing said articles in confined similarly disposed successive relation, a tear strip lengthwise of one of a pair of opposed sides of said carton, said strip being removable to expose a common surface of each article, a plurality of separator means pivotally connected in spaced relation to one of the other pair of opposed sides, each separator means having a portion extending cross-wise of said carton and disposed between adjoining articles to restrict intercontact therebetween, at least one end of said carton being formed so that said carton may be opened at said end, the weight of said articles, when said end is opened and disposed lowermost by uprighting said carton, inducing gravitational movement of said articles toward said open end and each article thereby bearing against a separator means underlying such article to push the underlying separator means portion away from position interfering with downward gravitational movement of said articles, whereby said articles may successively gravitate from said carton through the lower open end thereof.

3. A package comprising a plurality of similar cylindrical articles and an elongated container housing said articles in single file manner, said container being rectangular in cross-section and having a first pair of opposed side walls respectively tangential to the cylin' drical periphery of said articles and contacting each article on opposite sides, and a second pair of opposed sides engageable With opposite ends of each article to restrict axial movement of said articles within said container, said container having end closure walls which tangentially engage with the endmost articles and also having transverse separators tangentially contacting adjoining articles to hold them from engagement, all of said separators being pivoted from one of said first pair of side walls to provide for swinging of the same in a common direction by the weight of said articles when the package is uprighted and the lowermost end closure wall opened to permit egress of articles therethrough, said articles rolling along one of said first pair of side walls and swinging aside said separator means in progress to the lowermost opened end closure wall.

References Cited'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,419,375 Hall June 13, 1922 1,911,215 Walter May 30, 1933 1,901,006 Spain Mar. 14, 1933 2,414,659 Montague Ian. 21, 1947 2,605,897 Rundle Aug. 5, 1952 2,661,574 Ritter Dec. 8, 1953 2,752,037 Vogt June 26, 1956 I FOREIGN PATENTS 616,435 Great Britain Jan. 21, 1949 

